In his introduction as 49ers head coach at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Chip Kelly discusses how he will go about delegating duties among his coaching staff and how he will oversee the progress of the team on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016. Matt KawaharaThe Sacramento Bee

In his introduction as 49ers head coach at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Chip Kelly discusses how he will go about delegating duties among his coaching staff and how he will oversee the progress of the team on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016. Matt KawaharaThe Sacramento Bee

49ers Q&A: Tension between Baalke, Chip Kelly?

Dubs 73-9 ‏@mrizvi66Truth to any rumors of friction between Chip and the FO? Sounds like bull but with what we been thru...I wouldn’t be surprised.

ANSW: Well, you have to first consider the source. Brian Baldinger (Fox Sports NFL analyst; Eagles preseason TV analyst) is affiliated with the Eagles, who have been tripping over themselves to undermine Chip Kelly since he left town. One probably should take anything the Hatfields say about the McCoys with a grain of salt.

Kelly and Baalke were hanging out next to one another during the 49ers’ recent pro day – they were watching Stanford quarterback Kevin Hogan throw passes to receivers, including Stanford’s Devon Cajuste – and seemed to be perfectly chummy.

That being said, a rift certainly wouldn’t be out of character. Kelly feuded with his former personnel chief in Philadelphia while Baalke did the same with ex-49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh.

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Could quarterback Colin Kaepernick be the source of tension? Perhaps. Maybe Kelly arrived in San Francisco thinking he would have two former starters in Kaepernick and Blaine Gabbert to work with and is dismayed that the 49ers are prepared to trade Kaepernick.

Kelly did not seem very well-versed on the tension between Kaepernick and the 49ers. Perhaps he feels a bit misled when it comes to the most important position on the team.

San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke discusses the team's roster makeup and how his offensive philosophy compares to that of new head coach Chip Kelly at Levi's Stadium on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016 Matt KawaharaThe Sacramento Bee

* James ‏@xsideshowfreakx what do you think the Niners do with 7th now? Trade down? Hope for Ramsey? Settle on Treadwell? Take whichever QB is there?

ANSW: I’m going to try to answer all three questions with one inspired, hypothetical scenario … There are some draft observers who feel as if Cal quarterback Jared Goff will slide past the Browns at No. 2. If that’s the case, does he slide to the 49ers at No. 7? And if he does, would another team make a deal with San Francisco before he gets to the Eagles at No. 8? (Goff visited Philadelphia this week).

Maybe that team is the Jets, who also are on Goff’s visitation list and who can’t seem to re-sign last year’s starter, Ryan Fitzpatrick. The Jets pick at No. 20. A potential deal between the Jets and 49ers could involve Muhammad Wilkerson, the outstanding – and young – defensive lineman the salary-cap-strapped Jets have had trouble inking to an extension. Wilkerson wants a fresh start and I’m told he’d love to play in San Francisco, which is something you don’t hear from a lot of defensive players.

The 49ers have scads of cap space and a dearth of defensive linemen. In this scenario, the Jets would draft Goff at No. 7 while the 49ers would get Wilkerson, the 20th overall pick (where they might be able to land Lawson or Kevin Dodd or Laquon Treadwell or another mid-round choice) as well as some other picks. Et voila! (You’re welcome, Trent)

Guerquin Lionel ‏@Samsdad15I don’t see a trade down from The 7th spot but maybe a trade up from 2nd for Lynch if still here late in first. agree?

ANSW: I agree that I can envision that scenario. That also would rob the Broncos of a potential quarterback and force a Day 2 trade of Kaepernick. Genius.

ANSW: Remember, the 49ers contemplated a trade for Josh Gordon back when they were Super Bowl contenders, after Michael Crabtree tore his Achilles’ and before Gordon was in the heap of trouble he is in today. The 49ers are a team that must avoid drama; say, no, to Josh Gordon.

About This Blog

Matt Barrows was born in Blacksburg, Va., and attended the University of Virginia. He graduated in 1995, went to Northwestern for a journalism degree a year later, and got his first job at a South Carolina daily in 1997. He joined The Sacramento Bee as a Metro reporter in 1999 and started covering the San Francisco 49ers in 2003. His favorite player of all time is Darrell Green. Reach Barrows at mbarrows@sacbee.com.
Twitter: @mattbarrows